Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-24
Mark HOpiSipS.

The death of Dr. Mark Hopkins, eX-
president of Williams college and presi-
dent of the American board of miss 'Ons
will be widely mourned as the depart e
of one of the truest and best men on
country ever produced. Though far ad-
vanced in years-he was SHE still re-
t1ined so fully his mental powers, and ap
parently so much physical strength that
his friends were hoping that he might
still sdrvive for years and give to the
great interest he had at heart the benefit
of his ripe wisdom and broad Christian
spirit. But suddenly, just before the VII
liams commencement, which occasion viii
be Swallowed by this loss of its most veneer
ated guide, philosopher and friend y he
has been taken to his rest. DR.. Hopkins
was born IN Stockbridge, Mass. in 1856! He
graduated from Williams college in 1921 (:
was tutor in that college till 1926 studied
medicine and took the degree of NJ. ID. in
1873; and began the practice of medicine in
New York city in 1880 he was called ba X
to the college, to the chair of moral PHI o
sophy and rhetoric. In 1886 he succeeded
President Griffin as president and was at
the head of the college for nearly 1OTy
years, retiring from the active dutles of
the position some twelve or fifteen years
ago He was one of the best and most
successful of college presidents, aud had
the love and reverence of many huuIreds of
Williams boys who, in standing college
joke, used to insist that he was alluded to
III sacred witt as Mark, the perfect
man" He was a volumnous writer
his published works being for the most
part addresses and sermons on val ous oc
CO ions. OF late years he hes come before
the public eye chiefly in connection N;th
the meetings and work of the Amel ian
board of commissioners for foreign mis-.
siors. OF this important corporation he
has been the president for thirty years.
Holding the conservative side in his theo-
logical views he has yet been entirely OPP
posed to the course of the managers Of the
corporation, who have transformed its
prudential committee into theological
tribunal and machine for fignting one
side of theological controversy in the
Congregational body. He was exoecling
to preside at the approaching annual
meeting of the board at Springfield, Mass,
and WIS looked to as the man who cou.d
do most to enable the opposing parties to
Scc eye W eye, anu u save lne DOAcu and
its missions from serious disaster, which
threatens them from the imposition of new
tests of orthodoxy, and from the reckless
course of men who seem t D make support of
their side of theological dispute first, and
all other interests and considerations, IN
GLIDING the welfare of the heather, second.
President Hopkins's last writing on the
subject was a clear and vigorous protest.
printed in the New York independent last
week, against the unjust and illiberal
course of that paper toward those who
favor the Congregational method of deter
mining the orthodoxy of applicants by
means of an open council, rather than by
the verdict of one man, whether acting
through packed committee in secret SEES
siou, or by himself without his committee.
We know of no man who can take DIR.
Hopkins's place as peacemaker in the
annual meeting of the board but it is to
be hoped that the influence of his wise
counsel and last words VIII not be wholly
lost on that body.